NEW YORK CITY — A veteran from the NYPD’s Intelligence Division will become the department's new highways commander replacing the police official who committed suicide last month amid the department’s ongoing corruption scandal, DNAinfo New York has learned.
Inspector Steven D’Ulisse, who presently leads the NYPD’s Threat Assessment Unit, will command several hundred officers who patrol the city’s roadways and often are called upon to provide escorts for dignitaries and select community leaders.
D'Ulisse replaces Inspector Michael Ameri who committed suicide last month after he was spoken to by the FBI and his records were seized as part of the probe.
Ameri shot and killed himself in his car beside a Suffolk County golf course.
READ MORE: Who’s Who in the Federal NYPD/City Hall Corruption Probe
Although he was not a target, numerous top NYPD officials have come under federal scrutiny for providing police escorts to certain community leaders and wealthy businessmen — and the FBI is trying to determine if they received any gifts in return for the favors.
“He is going to be known as ‘Inspector No’ because he will not be giving escorts to anyone without explicit permission from high up,” an NYPD insider said.
Nearly a dozen high-ranking police officials have been ensnared in the probe, with a majority already filing for retirement to protect their pensions in the event they are charged with criminal offenses.
D’Ulisse, a 30-year veteran, is known as a straight shooter who previously served as the the head of Dignitary Protection before moving over to oversee threats against New Yorkers or Big Apple targets.
In September 2015, D’Ulisse was the senior NYPD representative from the Intelligence Division assigned to shepherd, guard and protect the “Declaration of Independence” when it was brought here for public display.
